Accelerator for automobiles



Dec 25, 1923.

G. F. CASTLE ACCELERATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jun 2, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. Georg e (2.5 5/6.;-

0 Y ATTORNEYJ' Dec. 25, 31923..

G. F. CASTLE ACCELERATOR FOR AuToMoBILE Filed June 2, 1.922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. a Jf/f ATTOR Eh' BY @yOW Patented Dec. HQZ3.

UMTEID stars PTENT canto.

GEORGE E. CASTLE, OF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTO LEWIS D. CASTLE, OF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ACCELERATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed June 2, 1922. Serial No. 565,387.'

no I have contemplated applying that prin-' ciple, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

It is well known that most operators of self-propelled vehicles (automobiles, trucks,

16 etc.) prefer to control the driving speed of such vehicle by means of the so-called footaccelerator instead of by means of the con jointly operable hand-control lever. The use, however, of such foot actuated acceler ac ator not only imposes a considerable physical strain on the driver, but also where a rough or bumpy road is being traversed, it

is practically impossible to hold the accelerator steadily in any one position, with the 25 result that severe shocks are given to the engine and other working parts of the machine.

The object of the present invention, accordingly, is the provision of means whereby the operator may be relieved of the necessity for constant attention to the control in question, allowing. him to remove his foot to a more restful position, if he desires to do so. At the same time such operator may instantly assume complete control of the speed of his engine through the accelerator whenever he desires to do so. I, furthermore, provide for a slight acceleration without rendering the speed control inoperative, the present device being designed so that it can be set by the foot to maintain a normal speed, such speed slightly increased Without changing the setting or at the will of the operator complete control of the speed resumed through the foot pedal or accelerator.

Tothe accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but several of various mechanical forms in whizh the principle of the invention may be use In said annexed drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of construction embodying my present im p'rovcments; Fig.2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a detail, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 33, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view and partial section of a modified form of construction; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of such modified form; and Fig. 6 is a front elevation of still a third form of.

construction embodying the present improvements.

In the several forms of the device illustrated in the drawings, the accelerator pedal 1 is shown as of the vertically reciprocable type quite generally employed on various makes of automobiles, the stem of such pedal extending downwardly through the floor 2 of the vehicle and being connected with the" engine throttle in the usual way. As ordinarily operated, the driver simply rests the heel of one foot on the floor adjacent such pedal and by rocking his foot presses the toe or ball thereof on the pedal in order to produce suchchange in s eed as may from time to time be desired. bviously, however, it is not possible to rest the weight of the foot on the pedal, but the foot must be maintained at the proper angle, imposing a constant strain on the driver, as aforesaid.

One principal element of the present device, in the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is a foot rest 3 that is mounted adjacent such accelerator pedal 1 so as to-be vertically reciprocable, in the same manner as is said pedal. Laterally projecting from the rest is an arm 4 that engages with the top of the pedal in order to press the latter downwardly when desired, the pedal being of relatively light construction so that its mere weight thus resting on the pedal does not materially affect the position of the latter. It will be understood that the relative location of the pedal and rest may vary to suit conditions encountered in any particular make of car; thus thearm 4. may pro'ect either forwardl or to the rear of the cot rest instead of aterally therefrom.

The rest is thus reciprocably supported by .meansof a plate 5 mounted on a guide frame 6 that is conveniently disposed below the floor, a compression spring 7 being interposed between such plate 5 andthe rest so as to furtherrelieve pedal 1 of any load should this be found necessary. In addition to the reciprocable movement of the rest 3 thus provided for, such rest is rendered transversely movable on plate 5 by being connected therewith through the medium of pins 7 on one of the members in question that fit in slots 8 on the other. Such transverse movement, 4 it will be observed, is limited by the connecting means in question so that the arm 4 is at no time disengaged from pedal 1. Mounted on foot board 2 adjacent the foot rest 3 is a tubular casing 10, of general cylindrical form, open on the side directed towards said rest, and in such casing is housed a coil spring 11 in slightly compressed state, but preferably with the "convolutions thereof somewhat spaced apart, as shown in Figs. 2 ,nd 3. Projecting from the adjacent side of the rest is a pawl or finger 12,. the outer end of which is preferably slightly beveled, such finger being so located with reference to the casing 10 that upon slight lateral movement of the rest towards said casing, it may be caused to enter between any two selected convolutions of the spring and will be there held, thus retaining the rest in corresponding vertical position. Obviously the foot pedal will be held in corresponding depressed position, giving whatever speed may be desired by the operator under the particular road conditions encountered at the time. If it is desired to change the setting of the pedal, it is merely necessary for the operator by a slight lateral shifting movement of his foot to disengage finger 12 from spring 11 and again engage same therewith at a difierent elevation. The spring will preferably be stiff enough so that the operator may rest.

his foot on the pedal, when set in the fashion just described, without effect bn the latter, but by a suitable increase in pressure, such spring may be additionally compressed a s ight amount in order to accelerate the speed of the vehicle as'in going up a slight incline or passing another vehicle.

In the modified construction illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the foot rest 15 is shown as lying directly over and engaging with the accelerator pedal 1 and said rest, and instead of being directly reciprocable, is oscillatorily mounted on a horizontal ivot 16 through the medium of an arm 1 The pivotal connection is made sufficiently loose (or a universal joint may be employed innewest.

stead thereof) so that a slight oscillatory movement of the rest in a horizontal plane may also be obtained. A torsion spring 18,

corresponding in function with spring 7 in the first described construction, normally tends to raise the foot rest andlrelieve the pedal 1 of any load, but upon depressing said rest and then shifting the same in a horizontal plane, a fingeror pawl 19 thereon may be engaged between any two selected convolutions of a spring 20 that is held in' a housing 21 located adjacent said rest and identical ,in every way with the housing 10 except'that it is curved to correspond with the curvi-linear movement of the finger 19 due to the oscillatory character of the mounting of the rest.

Instead of employing a spring to form the ratchet wherewith finger or pawl 12, or

19 as the case may be, is adapted to engage, I may employ an ordinary saw tooth ratchet. 25, as shown in Fig. 6, the mounting of the foot rest 25; here illustrated being substan tiall the same as that just described in conthe vertical position of the rest without disenga ing such finger. Moreover,the use of a coid spring, when mounted as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, forexample, has the further advantage of permitting the nice ad'- justment of any selected point at which it may be desired to set the device fornormal operation, by simply rotating such spring about its axis. Thus, where a speed limit is imposed by municipal ordinance or otherwise, the spring may be rotated to present a convolution at exactly the right height for giving such speed when the pawl or finger 12 is engaged. therewith; and this adjustment can e quickly and easily changed when a change in carbureter adjustment or other conditions make it necessary.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as re-.

gards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and from said means.

2. In a control device of the character described, the combination of a movable foot-rest and means adapted to retain said foot-rest in selected osition, said means including an indepen ently operable element carried by said foot-rest and an element adapted to be engaged b said first-named element, and one of sai elements having limited movement in the direction of movement of said foot-rest.

3. In a control device of the character described, the combination of a movable foot-rest and means adapted to retain said foot-rest in selected osition, said means including an indepen ently operable element carried by said foot-rest and an element adapted to be engaged by said first-named element, and one of said elements being re siliently maintained in normal position but having limited movement from such position in the direction of movement of said foot-rest.

4. In a control device of the character described, the combination of a movable foot-rest and means adapted to retain said foot-rest in selected osition, said means including an indepen ently operable element carried by said foot-rest and an element adapted to be engaged by said first-named element, and one of said elements being adjustable in the direction. of movement of said foot-rest.

5. In a control device of the charaacter described, the combination of a movable foot-rest and means adapted to retain said foot-rest in selected position, said means including an independently operable element carried by said foot-rest and an element adapted to be engaged by said first-named element, and one of said elements being adjustable in the direction of movement of said foot-rest and in addition having limited movement in the same direction from such adjusted position.

6. In a control device of the character described, the combination of a movable foot-rest and means adapted to retain said foot-rest in selected position, said" means including an inde endently operable element carried by said oot-rest and a series of elements adapted to be selectively engaged by said first-named element and to have limited movement in the direction of movement of said foot-rest. 4

7. In a control device of the character described, the combination of a movable foot-rest and means adapted to retain said foot-rest in selected position, said means including an independently operable element carried by said foot-rest, and a coil spring disposed to have its convolutions selectively engaged by said element.

8. In a control device of the character described, the combination of a movable foot-rest and means adapted to retain said foot-rest in selected position, said means includin an independently operable element carrie by said foot-rest, and a coil spring disposed to have its convolutions selectively engaged by said element and said spring being rotatable about its axis to adjust the normal position of said convolution as presented for engagement by said element.

9. In a control device of the character described, the combination of a ,movable footrest, and independently operable means adapted to retain said foot-rest in selected position, said foot-rest beingnormally movable without any interference from said means and .thelatter including a resilient member whereby limited movement is permitted said foot-rest.

10. In a control device of the character described, the combination of a foot-rest comprising two independently movable elements, one of said elements being adapted to engage an accelerator pedal or the like in order to depress the same as desired, and a member adapted to be engaged by the other element of said foot-rest and thereby retain the latter in selected position, said member having a limited movement in the direction of movement of the first-named element of said foot-rest.

11. In a control device of the character described, the combination. of a foot-rest comprising two independently movable elements, one of said elements being adapted to engage an accelerator pedal or the like in order to depress the same as desired, and a resilient member adapted to be engaged by the other element of said foot-rest and thereby retain the latter in selected position.

12. In a control device of the character described,'the combination of a foot-rest supported so as to be both vertically and transversely adjustable, said foot-rest being adapted to engage an accelerator pedal or the like in order to depress the same as desired, and means adapted to be engaged by said foot-rest upon transverse movement thereof and to retain same in selected vertical position.

13. In a control device of the character described, the combination of a foot-rest supported so as to be both vertically and transversely adjustable, said foot-rest being adapted to engage an accelerator pedal or the like in order to depress the same as desired, and resilient means adapted to be engaged by said foot-rest upon transverse movement thereof and to retain same in selected vertical position.

14. In a control device of the character described, the combination of a foot-rest sup ported so as to be both vertically and transversely adjustable, said foot-rest being adapted to engage an accelerator pedal or the like in order to depress the same as desired, a coilspring located adjacent to said foot-rest, and a finger on the latter adapted upon transverse movement thereof to he enspring. v e

I 15. In a control device of the character 5 described, the combination of a vertically reciproceble slide, a foot-restmounted thereon so as to be transversely shiftable, said foot-rest being adapted to engage a n ecgeged between selected convolutions', of said celeretor pedal'or the like in order to de: press the same desired,- a coil sprin located adjacent to said foot-rest, and a nger on the latter adapted upontransverse movement thereof to'be engaged between selected con- Volutions of said spring.

Signed by me this 27th day of Me 1922. "GEORGE E. OAS LE. 

